An Interview with Tsartlip Guardians: Franklyn Sampson and Richard Underwood

Franklyn Sampson

Interviewer: Can you tell me a bit about who you are and where you’re from?

Franklyn

My name’s Franklyn Sampson. I’m from the Tsartlip Reserve here in Brentwood Bay.

Interviewer: What kind of work will you be doing?

Franklyn

I work as a stewardship Guardian so I patrol the Salish sea keep an eye for pollution and watch our streams and stuff like that. I’m learning how to do the water testing, and learning that some of the streams are pretty bad. 

And I like to look at the plants. This one time I got to go on a  walk with parks and got to look at their plan and I got to show them what plants are there and that are food or medicine to our nations parks. Let me know that they are not going to go through with their plans and mention that we should get together for more projects in the months to come 

I’m enjoying getting to show the plants you can eat, stuff that’ll heal diabetes things like that. There are plants out there that’ll slow down your insulin intake. Ones you could use to cover your wounds or like if you got sprained an ankle, there’s a plant out there that you could use like right away. It’ll work instantly and, you know, I’m happy to be teaching people about that stuff.

Interviewer: Can you share some of the experience you bring to this position?

Franklyn

I do a lot of hunting and fishing in our territory I have seen the decline in wild life our food I found that what I know is useful information for the stewardship in some of the studies and we have a common goal to better our community and our Salish sea 

Interviewer: What kind of impact do you hope to have during your time as a Guardian?

Franklyn

Yeah, I’ve had a plan for the territories like the Gulf Islands and stuff like that to go and see how our native plants are doing out there. I’m learning now that there are some out there that aren’t growing there anymore that we could replant and get them growing again. The invasive species that were brought here and the animals that were brought here have done a lot of damage to the plant life out there.

Interviewer: What do you like to do when you’re not at work?

Franklyn

When I’m not working, I hang out with my kids, we watch Netflix, go hunting, and I teach them how to hunt and fish, and stuff like that.

Richard Underwood

Interviewer: Can you tell me a bit about who you are and where you’re from?

Richard

My name is Richard Underwood. I’m a Tsawout First Nations band member and I currently live in Tsartlip.

Interviewer: What kind of work will you be doing with Tsartlip?

Richard

I work as a stewardship Guardian in the Stewardship department. I’m still somewhat new, I worked for a short time in Tsawout as well, but for Tsartlip I mainly just want to see if I can make a positive impact on natural resources. Whether they’re declining or increasing you know, I just wanted to see if I can make a difference not just from my own interest, but for the interest of all nations here.

Interviewer: Can you share some of the experience you bring to this position?

Richard

I’ve done a lot of fishing on my own just for personal and recreational use and to help feed my family.

Interviewer: What do you like to do when you’re not at work?

Richard

If I’m not working, I’m still working or I’m with my kids. My kids love to play soccer as well, so I’m always on the go and not home very often.

Interviewer: What do you like to do when you’re not at work?

Richard

I’m just happy to be working for Tsartlip First Nation and I hope to have a positive impact. Any questions or concerns, we’re always willing to listen to community members.